Admirer of Paul Raj Paintings

My photo
Paul was born in Kodaikanal on 22 September 1914 and died on 2 October 1979. G D Arulraj was born in 1925 and died in June 1972 while visiting India. Arul worked at Laguna Beach in the 60's and 1970's. G D Thyagaraj might have been born in 1922 and I am told that he probably died sometime before 1981. He moved to northern India as a young man. I lived in India as a child and spent a lot of time in Calcutta. My mother purchased several paintings directly from Paul Raj while living in Madras and this got me interested in his works. I then discovered he had two brothers Arul Raj and Thyaga Raj who were both fantastic artists. I could not find much information on the internet so decided to set up my own blog. Subsequently a Facebook tribute site has also been created to the memory of the three brothers. Contact me at: rajbrothers@hotmail.co.uk

Monday 28 May 2012

G D Paulraj - Dhobies at Work

I have been contacted by a lady whose friend is wanting to sell the following Paulraj painting.  I have asked for some more background information and if possible a higher quality photo.  Once I have some more information I will add it to the blog.
The painting appears to be behind glass as there is some reflection on the painting.  If you are interested just email me and I will send on your email address.

Friday 25 May 2012

G D Arulraj - Mountains

This is a painting by G D Arulraj depicting snow covered mountains.

This is a nice crisp fresh looking painting.

Sunday 20 May 2012

G D Arulraj - Street Scene with Arched Tower

This is a watercolour by Arulraj showing one of his typical street scenes.  There is a building jutting out into the street a bit like a tower with an arched window.
Quite a colourful painting with some purple in the distance.  A typical lady carrying a basket walking along the street.

Thursday 17 May 2012

G D Arulraj - Village Street

Another painting tracked down by Kashinath this one is by G D Arulraj, this one shows a village street.
Kashinath says that his next exhibition will take place in Kochi in Kerala in October of this year.  I like this painting it is nice and bright having retained it's colours.

Tuesday 15 May 2012

Sailing to India

Just turned up some old documents at home.  The first is a certificate I was given in 1957 when I first sailed to India on the Caledonia which first came into service with the Anchor line in 1948.  It was just after the Suez crisis and the canal was blocked with sunken boats so we had to sail to india via South Africa.  In the process we crossed the equator and a ceremony was performed and anyone who had not crossed the equator before was given a certificate to mark the occasion.
The second image is grabbed from a family cine film showing our luggage being taken off   another boat in Southampton.  It was loaded into nets and them dumped onto the deck for moving into our cabins or storage if it was not needed on the voyage.

I will look to see if I have a postcard of the vessel put away somewhere.  I have been directed to a postcard of the ship see below.

Sunday 13 May 2012

G D Thyagaraj - Drying the Fish

Watercolour by G D Thyagaraj found by Kashinath.  It seems to show the women placing baskets of fish on some sort of drying table?  Any one have any other ideas?
Thanks again Kashinath for sharing this painting.

Thursday 10 May 2012

G D Paulraj - Rough Seas

This is an oil painting by G D Paulraj sowing two fishermen battling "Rough Seas'.  It was sent to me by Kashinath who says it can be found in the Kerala Museum in Kochi.
It is a very moody painting with quite strong colours. Thanks Kashinath.

Monday 7 May 2012

Fort - Me and the Driver

This one is taken in colour in 1967, I do not have many colour photos from that time.  It captures a good spirit between the Sikh driver (whose name I have forgotten) and myself.  We had visited a fort (could this be in Delhi?) earlier he had taken us to his Sikh temple and got me kitted out with a turban, a comb, a dagger and a steel bangle which I appear to be wearing in the photograph as well.


Sunday 6 May 2012

Calcutta 1967 - Basket Sellers

I have just been looking through and old family photograph album and have scanned a few photos to add to the blog.  The first shows my mother in 1967 talking to two women in a Calcutta street, maybe a mother and daughter who are carrying some large baskets on their heads.  Thought it was a great photo.

Friday 4 May 2012

G D Paulraj - Group of street sellers

This is the third painting sent to me by Elisabeth and this is also by Paulraj but in oil.  We know Paul painted in oils but we see very few compared with his watercolours.
The face profiles of the woman in the red sari and the one in the blue sari are very similar.  Maybe this could be based on his wife, we know he did have sketches of her?  Thanks again Elisabeth.

Tuesday 1 May 2012

G D Paulraj - Catching up on the news

This photo of a G D Paulraj was sent to me by Elisabeth in the USA, it was purchased by her father many years ago.
It is a nice bright street scene with some lovely trees.  Thanks again Elisabeth. The title is my creation.